As the first ever female contingent commander of Bangladesh Army to a United Nations peacekeeping mission, Col Dr Nazma Begum along with her contingent members flew to Ivory Coast from Dhaka Saturday night. 

The 56-member medical contingent left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for the UN Operations in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) -- UNOCI by a UN charter aircraft, says a press release of the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate yesterday.

The contingent, which comprises six female officers, will provide treatment to patients at level-2 hospital there.

Prior to taking the new responsibility, Col Nazma was serving as the assistant director of medical services at the 11th Infantry Division in Bogra.

She was the first female commander of 21 Field Ambulance in the history of Bangladesh Army, the press release mentioned.  

Nazma is also a renowned author. She has written 26 books. Five of her books have been published in this year's Amar Ekushey Book Fair.

Bangladesh Army has been working in the UN peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast since 2004 with reputation, efficiency, professionalism, and sincerity, according to the release.